Missing Mississippi

Sunny sweaty days you gave to me. Hot and humid nights you fed to me. Your dark and scary clouds frighten me. Those thunder rolls and flashing lightning startled me. With heavy rains you flooded the land. Your tornadoes blew like a mighty fan Your long twisting river could not be tamed. Only the strong ever survived your awful pain. You gave me the bitter and the sweet. Your long hard days caused me to weep. In your cotton fields you made me work. Only heaven knows how you made me hurt. In spite of you, my faith and hope grew deep. Most of the lessons I learned never came cheap. Education was the key, and ignorance was hard to beat. Although I dislike the awful way you abused and treated me; And although you never felt like home to me, I miss the presence of your quietness, that I so seldom see. 08312017 PS Contest, Best Rhyme, Brenda Chiri